Sara M Buckelew1, Herb Pierrie, Anand Chabra. 1. Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Programs, San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo, California 94403, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Realizing the paucity of data available concerning fatherhood, the Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County, a public-private community partnership with leadership from the local Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program, conducted a countywide needs assessment to ask fathers of young children about their personal and service-related needs in order to assist local stakeholders in expanding and improving services for families. METHODS: Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. A total of 204 fathers of children aged 0 to 5 years completed a 35-question survey. In addition, 80 fathers and community representatives participated in nine focus groups. RESULTS: A complex set of needed services for fathers in the county emerged from the assessment, including: father-child activities; parks and recreational activities; better schools; parenting classes; support groups; high quality, affordable childcare; and general legal assistance. Only one-half felt the county was doing a good or excellent job in supporting fathers. CONCLUSIONS: This assessment is one county's effort to collect data about fathers, from fathers, in order to shape MCAH programming to better serve families. This assessment may serve as a model for other MCAH programs interested in improving services for fathers and families.
OBJECTIVE: Realizing the paucity of data available concerning fatherhood, the Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County, a public-private community partnership with leadership from the local Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program, conducted a countywide needs assessment to ask fathers of young children about their personal and service-related needs in order to assist local stakeholders in expanding and improving services for families. METHODS: Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. A total of 204 fathers of children aged 0 to 5 years completed a 35-question survey. In addition, 80 fathers and community representatives participated in nine focus groups. RESULTS: A complex set of needed services for fathers in the county emerged from the assessment, including: father-child activities; parks and recreational activities; better schools; parenting classes; support groups; high quality, affordable childcare; and general legal assistance. Only one-half felt the county was doing a good or excellent job in supporting fathers. CONCLUSIONS: This assessment is one county's effort to collect data about fathers, from fathers, in order to shape MCAH programming to better serve families. This assessment may serve as a model for other MCAH programs interested in improving services for fathers and families.
Authors: H Dubowitz; M M Black; C E Cox; M A Kerr; A J Litrownik; A Radhakrishna; D J English; M W Schneider; D K Runyan Journal: Child Maltreat Date: 2001-11